The government geared up for a possible showdown with religious hardliners camped out on the federal capital's busy Faizabad Interchange after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered the district administration to take all necessary steps to clear the area latest by Saturday morning.

A 10pm deadline for Friday night given to protesters to disperse lapsed without much done on either side.

All hospitals in the city were ordered to cancel doctors and paramedical staff's leaves and ask them to be present on duty till further instructions.

One thousand personnel were requested from the Punjab Rangers "to perform duty along with police,".

The district administration had also requisitioned water tankers and fire brigades to prepare for any eventuality.

At least eight ambulances, along with paramedical staff; two fire engines; and three water bowsers would be at the disposal of the district magistrate from Nov 18, an official letter read.

There were fears that a crackdown would have serious repercussions, with the government hinting that some of the protesters were armed and would not shy from resorting to violence.

"We know that there are armed men and we know that there are people with them [the protesters] who are waiting to provoke chaos," the interior minister said in a press conference on the matter late Friday evening. "It is incumbent on the leaders of this protest to make sure nothing untoward happens."

"Whoever challenges the writ of the government will be dealt with," he promised. "We have the capability, but we would rather avoid violence."

Last-minute appeals

A couple of hours before the 10pm deadline expired, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal made what seemed to be a last-ditch effort to appeal to the better nature of the protesters.

Presenting himself as the son of 'exceptionally devout' Muslims, he pleaded that the sit-in, which has disrupted life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the past week or so, be called off as it went against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Saying that "international lobbies" would "use pictures of the protests to further their agenda", Iqbal asked the protesters if they wanted their actions to hurt the state of Pakistan.

"The CPEC Joint Coordination Committee's session is scheduled for Nov 20-21. What image of the capital city do we wish to portray? Do we want that the investor who is coming in should run away?" he asked.

"I assure that there is no shortcoming in the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat laws and a gap that had been created after 2002 has also been filled forever," he said. "Therefore, there is no reason this sit-in should continue and be allowed to disrupt people's lives."

"I appreciate your sentiment: you are here to safeguard your love for Prophet Muhammad. However, this country, its parliament, government and armed forces are here to safeguard the finality of prophethood," he assured.

"Our faith is just as strong as yours. In light of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad's teachings, I ask you to end this sit in immediately," he said.

"Do not test the patience of the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Obey the court's orders. We are still open to negotiations with you. We are all Muslims, and our faith in the Prophet Muhammad and Islam is just as strong as yours. Do not question it," he said as he appealed to the protesters. "Leave the judging to God," he repeated at various points during his conference.

"Else we will be forced to take the step the court has ordered us to take," he said.

"I hope that we will be able to end this situation with talks and those who claim to love the Prophet will not instigate their followers towards violence," he said.

"It is only the enemies of Pakistan who want to create disruptions in the country," he said.

A festering problem

The protesters belong to various 'religious' parties, including the Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST), and have been calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 ─ which had earlier been deemed a 'clerical error' and restored to its original form on Thursday, November 16.

To pressure the government on its demands, TLY has occupied the Faizabad Bridge which connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad through the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, both of which are the busiest thoroughfares in the twin cities.

IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who issued the order to clear the area earlier in the day, made the decision while hearing a petition filed by citizen Abdul Qayyum. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner retired captain Mushtaq Ahmed and the deputy inspector general operations were also present in court today.

Taking note of the difficulties faced by citizens due to blockage of the major artery, the court ordered the district administration to ensure the dispersal of protesters, whether through peaceful means or by the use of force.

The court also permitted the district administration to exercise its authority and request the deployment of the Punjab Rangers or the Frontier Constabulary, if needed.

Justice Siddiqui, in passing the order, had observed that Islam does not permit any harm coming to women, children or the elderly, even in times of war.

The judge — who is known for his religious zeal — said that as the protesters' demands had already been accepted by the parliament and executives, they had no more reason to continue protesting.

Justice Siddiqui asked why the district administration had been unsuccessful in exercising its authority to end the protest. He pointed out that there is already a designated area for people to register their protests in the capital ─ the Democracy and Speech Corner.

Any citizen who wishes to exercise their right to freedom of speech must not inconvenience other citizens, the court said.

'Protesters given until 10pm to end sit-in'

After the order was passed, the DIG Operations, senior superintendent police and other officers attended a meeting of high-level administration officials chaired by DC Mushtaq Ahmed, where Additional Inspector General Special Branch Muhammad Ilyas gave a briefing.

The officials decided that a final warning must be issued to the protesters to vacate the Interchange before a clearance operation takes place, officials said.

The district administration said a written warning will be issued giving the protesters until 10pm on Friday to end their sit-in. If they do not do so, only then will an operation take place.

The DC further said an operation will take place in the morning, as it cannot take place at night.

The police, FC and Rangers will be deployed to assist in the operation, he added.

'Cold response'

Fed up with the public response in the twin cities, the cold response from the federal government, and intermittent spells of rain which started Tuesday, the protesting clerics had taken to petitioning the IHC for "execution" of their demands.

Their earlier demands, most of which have been taken back now, included the removal of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, blasphemy accused Asiya Bibi’s execution, dismissal of cases against religious leaders, and the removal of various extremist clerics' names from the Fourth Schedule.

Justice Siddiqui had on Thursday heard the petition submitted by TLY, and subsequently asked for a report compiled by a PML-N committee probing the controversial amendment to the oath to be made public so that "the culprits so determined therein, may very kindly be proceed against under the relevant laws."

Earlier this week, Justice Siddiqui, while hearing a petition submitted by Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat supporter Allah Wasaya against the same issue, had ordered the repeal of all amendments in sections pertaining to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017.

On DawnNews

Comments (46) Closed

Abdul Qureshi

Nov 17, 2017 12:35pm

All religious parties that cause disorder in the country and inconvenience to public, should be banned.

Recommend0

M.Saeed

Nov 17, 2017 12:35pm

These clerics should be disciplined once for all before they become a big headache like so many other. Law should be made to stop anyone on any account sealing the flow of traffic of the common man for forcing their demands.

Recommend0

Adnan Mazher Khan

Nov 17, 2017 12:40pm

Poor response from Government has forces Judiciary to take administrative actions. Such is the plight of our ruling elite that they are not responsive and cognizant of woes faces by general public.

Recommend0

Ali

Nov 17, 2017 12:51pm

Great decision by IHC.

Recommend0

imdadali

Nov 17, 2017 01:30pm

orders of honorable IHC must be utmost respect. there is orders to capital administration to clear the area from protesters as amendment has been made in role but no action for federal law minister is proposed by honorable high court is questionable because ruling parliamentarian including federal law minister kept it hide then the report came in media it was told that due to clerical error it did make, it is matte of common observation that every first write the paper then sign it it mean non read before signature even speaker assembly every sad.

Recommend0

Alfa ZULU

Nov 17, 2017 02:03pm

Well done IHC, right decision by honourable judges. Writ of state must prevail.

Recommend0

sabeeh ahmad

Nov 17, 2017 02:32pm

Good Step....

Recommend0

Sufferor

Nov 17, 2017 02:53pm

Good Riddance

Recommend0

Asif Raza

Nov 17, 2017 03:19pm

There is no mentioning of protesters's response over the orders issued by the court in this news report.
The news report therefore, seems incomplete.

Recommend0

Asif A. Shah

Nov 17, 2017 06:21pm

Good decision!

Recommend0

pak zar zameen

Nov 17, 2017 10:17pm

kick them out NOW .

Recommend0

Faraz

Nov 17, 2017 10:21pm

Wrong approach for partially correct cause.....

Recommend0

Zeeshan

Nov 17, 2017 10:31pm

PMLN want this situation to create all over Pakistan. They didnot take them serious. always saving their culprit. This what happen. They reach to this point.

Recommend0

Saint Mercury

Nov 17, 2017 10:40pm

The country is run over by the religious Mafia. No politician or Military general has the guts to bring order to this situation. This is the direct result of putting religious leaders on the pedestal and giving them more political power and freedom. Now it is coming to haunt 'em.

Recommend0

pakone

Nov 17, 2017 10:48pm

A weak impotent "government" kissing a handful of jahil "mullah's" feet for over a month at the expense of the safety of daily lives of citizens, businesses and economies of the twin cities including the Capital is a shame and disgrace! Welcome Nawaz Sharif's vision of Bakistan. Jinnah must be turning over in his grave right now. Shame on gov't, shame on so called illiterate mullahs! If Raheel Sharif was COAS, he woulda dealt with this within a week! SHAME!!

Recommend0

Sameer

Nov 17, 2017 10:59pm

A deliberate attempt at editing religious clause was made. It was NOT a clerical error. If the commission ensured the involved was punished; all this protest could've been avoided. Heads need to roll before protesters can be calmly sent home. Using brute force is going to aggrevate the condition. Maybe thats what PMLN wants exactly and the thought scares me.

Recommend0

Emad Chowdhry

Nov 17, 2017 11:00pm

Why are we being held hostage by these fanatics? Take action before it becomes another Lal Masjid. I am losing hope for a prosperous and liberal Pakistan. No one should be allowed to cause inconvenience to general public. These lunatics should be in jail.

Recommend0

zealot

Nov 17, 2017 11:38pm

Be the zealots Not IDIOTS!!!!

Recommend0

fahimkhalil

Nov 18, 2017 12:05am

This is the another gift of Nawaz Sharif So called Experience team... these all religious parties have supported PML-N in NA120 .. now they must have to face the music.

Recommend0

test

Nov 18, 2017 12:18am

Sad to see Pakistani government is so helpless in front of these Islamists and of course establishment

Recommend0

billoopergate

Nov 18, 2017 12:26am

@Emad Chowdhry Nothing you can do when you all remain silent...

Recommend0

L. Ahmad

Nov 18, 2017 12:32am

Public disorder and disrupting life is the favourite past time of religious clergy in Pakistan. Mostly they go unchallenged and unpunished for their misdemeanours. Sometimes use of the brute force is the only option.

Recommend0

L. Ahmad

Nov 18, 2017 12:34am

@M.Saeed Signs of a weak and helpless government.

Recommend0

Mo Ash

Nov 18, 2017 01:02am

History tells us that religious fanatics don't listen to reasons; sadly they only understand the language of "Lathi Charge".

Recommend0

waleed

Nov 18, 2017 01:46am

Pakistan has only two options. Total capitulation to extremism or mercilessly dealing with religious thugs. It also needs to think that why people are turning into such fundamentalists and values like tolerance, understanding and rationality are disappearing from our religious thought.

Recommend0

Shan

Nov 18, 2017 01:54am

Best way to resolve any problem is force.

Recommend0

Liberty

Nov 18, 2017 01:57am

An incompetent government in a last ditch effort tries to hide its incompetence and ready to do Model Town-II! A display of pure arrogance of ignorance!

Recommend0

Peace

Nov 18, 2017 02:00am

Pakistan is in an irreversible downward spiral. The chickens have come home to roost. What goes around finally came around. Now it's too late. Good luck in taming the monster

Recommend0

M. Emad

Nov 18, 2017 02:09am

Pakistan government should patiently listen to the demands of the protesting Ulamas.

Recommend0

TQ

Nov 18, 2017 02:21am

These protesters are being blamed for sit-in and blocking. Understood and agreed. But are they doing anything different of what our immensely popular and foreign graduate leaders did in the recent past?.

Mental IQ is the same.

Recommend0

aditya

Nov 18, 2017 02:28am

a country of gangs..

Recommend0

Babar Hussain

Nov 18, 2017 03:38am

It now is a writing on he wall; that soon; the Mullahs
will ake over the entire Pakistan. Align with Taliban;
ISIS and also THE BOMBS>

Recommend0

Farooq Jawed

Nov 18, 2017 03:40am

Wonder where these protesters got the idea of disrupting daily life of the residents of Islamabad. I think its the infamous 'PTI Dharnas' that were the trend setters, that all these parties want to emulate. Look what precedent you have set Mr. Khan, Imran Khan.

Recommend0

Qureshi (USA)

Nov 18, 2017 03:41am

Appeal? They should be given ultimatum.

Recommend0

Aleem Jan

Nov 18, 2017 04:18am

Government appears to be very weak when dealing with religious fanatics who are law unto themselves. You need the resolve of Jamal Nasser of Egypt and courage of Kemal Ataturk to sort them out.

Recommend0

Sid

Nov 18, 2017 04:46am

they have a right to protest but no right to inconvenience the general public..

Government does need to sack whoever made this mistake in the first place but at the same time these protesters should respect rule of law

If they don’t then their leaders should be arrested

Recommend0

Sid

Nov 18, 2017 04:48am

@Saint Mercury remember lal masjid? Musharraf had the courage and dealt with them but was criticised for his rightful actions... anyone going against the state must be punished..

Recommend0

LAHORI KID

Nov 18, 2017 05:21am

Religious party people armed? Religious cleric threatening families of leaders? What faith are these people from? I don't know of any faith that acts like this. Its time to put an end to this mess, no matter what it takes.

Recommend0

Krishna

Nov 18, 2017 05:55am

So many day to day problems with respect to jobs, health, food, water, housing , education for the Government and the common man..............and these people have time, patience and money to spend in sit-ins?

Is there still hope for Pakistan? When I read articles in Dawn, especially from some of the esteemed authors, I feel that Pakistan can still come out of the rut. But, looking at all these, I feel the vast majority is still not yet ready for a safe, secure and healthy Pakistan.

Recommend0

Mazhar

Nov 18, 2017 06:35am

Protesters being looked at from wrong lens. They represent the one true solution for pakistan's systemic problems. Should be encouraged and embraced.

Recommend0

Ravi

Nov 18, 2017 06:44am

Religious extremism to the core. That's why terrorism thrives.

Recommend0

LAHORI KID

Nov 18, 2017 07:07am

This is an issue, the government wants to reason with these unreasonable people who are holding two big cities hostage, keeping people from going to work, keeping kids from going to school, keeping the poor poor people from earning their wages and shop keepers from doing any business, although I appreciate the government wanting to give them a fair warning, but you have maybe 5000 protesters compared to millions in those cities, its time to put your foot down and either send them packing or in jail, we have laws, this is not a jungle.

Recommend0

Cricketer

Nov 18, 2017 07:09am

These protests are normal in Pakistan. Pakistan is a failed state now.

Recommend0

Ustad

Nov 18, 2017 07:18am

They should sit on CPEC roads. This is plot by enemy to bring bad name to land of pure

Recommend0

billoopergate

Nov 18, 2017 07:31am

@Sameer gfy..clowns only commit crimes and act like imbeciles...there has never been reasoning and never will be.